Ratings No Gamble For ‘Jeopardy,’ Holzhauer

The amazing run of James Holzhauer propels the game into first place for syndication overall, knocking Judge Judy out after 40 straight weeks as No. 1.

By TVN Staff | April 30, 2019 | 12:33 p.m. ET.

Jeopardy ratings rose to a six-week high and topped all syndicated shows in the session ending April 21, the final frame before the May sweep as contestant James Holzhauer took home a $131,137 payday on April 17 and shattered the program’s single-day winnings record, a mark also held by Holzhauer.

Syndication powerhouse Judge Judy, which had ruled the household ratings for a modern record 40 straight weeks, aired five days of reruns and dipped 3% to a close second-place 6.5.

Judy was also one of several strips preempted in a number of markets due to the coverage of the Notre Dame fire on April 15 and the Mueller Report’s public release on April 18.

In other action, Dr. Phil eased 4% to a 2.7, but still finished first in the talk show category for the 137th consecutive week.

Live with Kelly and Ryan was the only talker in the big three ahead of last year, improving 5% annually. In addition, Live continued to roll with a 5% rally to a 2.3, outperforming Ellen DeGeneres for the eighth week in a row. Ellen was unchanged at a 1.9.

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Further back, Wendy Williams picked up 7% to a 1.5, while Maury and Steve Harvey’s Steve held steady at 1.3 and 1.2, respectively.

Elsewhere, rookie Chicago P.D. was one of the very few strips to collar double-digit increases, strengthening 13% to a 0.9 and leaping 25% in the key women 25-54 demo.

The week’s top-rated daytime talk shows in the women 25-54 demo were:

Dr. Phil (1.1, -8% from the week before)

Live with Kellyand Ryan (1.0, unchanged)

EllenDeGeneres (0.8, -11%), tied with Wendy Williams (0.8, +14%)

Maury (0.7, unchanged)

Steve Wilkos (0.6, unchanged)

Steve (0.5, unchanged)

In the household rating rankings that follow, % change is from the previous week; * indicates a new season-high rating; ** indicates a new season low; NC indicates no change from the previous week; NA mean not applicable.

tvn-member-3011604 says:

April 30, 2019 at 6:09 pm

Contrary to some opinions, James Holzhauer has been the most exciting thing to happen to Jeopardy in a long, long time. You can’t help but marvel at his knowledge, quick button action and high stakes, strategic betting. Yesterday he won by only $17 which was nail-biter. But this is how Jeopardy should be played–high energy and aggressive. I hope James wins millions. It will be one of the best investments the show’s producers could make.

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